Background: Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is the most common vascular disease. One major risk factor for its development is either long-term sitting or standing in the same position and the nature of the work performed.
Objectives: This study aims to assess the effectiveness of passive ankle movement in the sitting position performed using the Bella Vena robot for the symptoms of CVI with long-term observation.
Material and methods: A group of 58 patients (mean age: 59.69 ±14.59 years) with CVI in CEAP (Clinical (C), Etiological (E), Anatomical (A), and Pathophysiological (P)) classification categories 2 and 3, and a group of 37 (mean age: 51.49 ±14.86 years) healthy volunteers performing sedentary work for at least 6 h during the working day were enrolled into the study. The total duration of observation lasted 8 months (8 visits), during which the following parameters were assessed at the beginning and end of this period: pain intensity (according to the visual analogue scale (VAS)), level of saturation on the toe, pulse rate, and lower limb Doppler ultrasound evaluation of reflux parameters.
Results: The exercises used in people with CVI resulted in a significant reduction (p ≤ 0.01) in the occurrence of symptoms. Among all respondents, after 8 months of exercise, a significant reduction in pain level according to the VAS of the lower limbs, an improvement in saturation at the toe level, and a reduction in venous reflux was recorded (p ≤ 0.05).
Conclusions: Home exercises with the use of an automatic exercise rehabilitation device alleviated significant symptoms in patients with CVI and improved the calf muscle pump.
Keywords: calf muscle pump; chronic venous insufficiency; home exercises.